Abstract Detail

New Jersey is ecologically unique within the flora of North America because it is a transitional region between northern boreal and southern austral zones. Nineteen species of Gentianaceae (Asterids: Gentianales) in eight genera are found in New Jersey, ranging from coastal habitats to the inland highlands. Ecological, morphological, nomenclatural, and locality data were collected from over 1,650 herbarium specimens of Gentianaceae at the New York Botanical Garden (NY), Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BKL), the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (PH), and the Chrysler Herbarium of Rutgers University (CHRB). The first state record of spiked centaury, Schenkia spicata, a European coastal species, is reported here. Two neotypes and one lectotype were designated, thereby providing complete typification status for all Gentianaceae found in New Jersey. Of these 19 gentianaceous species, 17 are native and 10 are listed with a global and/or state conservation status due to their rarity. Two species are believed to be extirpated (Catesby’s gentian, Gentiana catesbaei, and the striped gentian, Gentiana villosa). The narrowleaf gentian (Gentiana linearis) has the highest priority state conservation status of Endangered because present day populations have yet to be located, although recent herbarium specimens exist. The highest number of gentianaceous species in New Jersey are found in the Pine Barrens (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, and Ocean counties), with the globally rare Pine Barrens gentian (Gentiana autumnalis) being highly restricted to this region. Other gentian species, such as agueweed (Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia) and Virginia pennywort (Obolaria virginica) are restricted to the mountainous highlands in the northwestern part of the state, showing the diversity of habitats that New Jersey holds. New Jersey is currently either the northern or southern limit of many of these species and their populations in the region should be closely monitored as a changing climate may affect the locality and abundance of these already rare species.